Posted in: SERVO Blog (02/03 at 11:33 AM)

Klann LEGO Spider v1.0

The Klann Lego Spider is a LEGO compatible prototype of the Klann linkage. The legs for the vehicle were milled from 3/8” plastic sheet stock. All the rest of the components are from LEGO Mindstorms, which we use to introduce first year students to robotic concepts.

The project evolved somewhat during the build, as can be seen in the videos and pictures. The turning video shows a simple timed turn where the vehicle moves forward for five seconds, reverses the direction of the left legs for five seconds, then moves both sides forward again for five seconds. The forward motion video shows a skinny version of the vehicle that had to be widened when turning was added, since the skinny version simply fell over on its side instead of making a turn.

Comments

Mind/Iron

3D printing has become so good that the printed prototypes outlive their usefulness. Most of my 3D printed plastic prototypes serve their purpose for perhaps five minutes and then end up in landfills along with lots of empty filament spools. ABS plastic and even so-called biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) will probably survive decades in the environment. Isn’t it time to find ways to repurpose this technology to decrease its footprint?